SKE - Subject Knowledge Enhancement

What is Subject Knowledge Enhancement?

Our online subject knowledge enhancement courses are perfect for you if you are applying for teacher training in Biology, Chemistry, Computing, English, French, Geography, German, Maths, Physics or Spanish and either your degree is not subject-specific or you lack confidence in your subject.

Our SKE courses prepare you for initial teacher training by helping you to gain the depth of subject knowledge and skills you need to be able to teach your chosen subject. We recommend that all postgraduates applying for teacher training in a shortage subject complete an SKE course prior to or during their initial teacher training.

As a postgraduate teacher training trainee you could access National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) SKE funding to cover the cost of a Tes Institute SKE course (worth up to £5,600*) and you may be eligible for a tax-free SKE training bursary of up to £5,600 (depending on the course length and availability of supplementary funding).

In order to receive course funding from the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) your chosen SKE subject should match the subject that you have a conditional offer for, unless you are teaching a Modern Language (French, German or Spanish) in which case you can choose a language that does not match your teacher training subject. In the case of Modern Language, you may pick up to two languages to cover back-to-back.

Fully funded English SKE

We are pleased to announce that English SKE courses are now available in a range of lengths including 8, 12 and 16 weeks. These courses will cover a range of topics across language and literature including creative writing, grammar, poetry, and Shakespeare. This course is eligible for full NCTL course funding and additional bursary of up to £3,200 if you meet the SKE entry criteria.

Designed for trainee science teachers who are training to teach Biology, Chemistry or Physics who need to upgrade their subject knowledge, these SKE courses cover key topic areas and practical techniques in each science subject and are 100% online, allowing you to improve your subject knowledge at a time that suits you.

As an example, some of the sessions available include organic chemistry, kinetics, applications of fundamental physics, electricity, plant nutrition, genome and stem cells and common misconceptions.If you are planning to take a 16 week or longer Biology, Chemistry or Physics SKE and you are interested in covering more than one science discipline please contact us for more information.

Chemistry and Physics SKE courses are available in a range of course lengths between eight and 28 weeks and Biology is available between eight and 24 weeks.

Maths SKE course

If you need to improve your subject knowledge of Maths then this online SKE course can help you build your subject confidence before or alongside your initial teacher training. Covering key areas of the mathematics curriculum, this online course is designed to strengthen your Maths knowledge and give you some of the tools that you will need to teach the subject.

As an example, some of the Maths sessions available include from numbers to algebra, trigonometry, probability and statistics.

Our online Maths SKE course is available in various course lengths from eight weeks until 28 weeks.

Modern Languages SKE courses – French, German and Spanish- Double SKE now available

Trainee teachers of a Modern Language are able to improve their subject knowledge in up to two SKE courses with our online French, German or Spanish SKE courses. Your chosen language doesn’t need to match your subject that you are training to teach in, which will be particularly useful if you are asked to teach multiple languages once qualified.

As most language teachers are required to teach two languages, the NCTL are now offering funding for up to two modern language SKE courses. The aim is to refresh your main teaching language and gain a more in depth understanding of a second language, with the SKE of your main language taking 8 weeks and the second, weaker language taking up to 24 weeks.

During the course you will also have access to Rosetta stone to help you develop your language vocabulary. As an example, some of the Modern Languages sessions available include how we learn languages, problems with teaching grammar, patterns and creativity in languages and developing writing skills.

Modern Language SKE courses are available in a range of lengths between eight and 24 weeks.

Geography SKE course

Our Geography subject knowledge enhancement course covers a range of subject areas including rocks, weathering, rivers and coasts and climatic hazards. The online SKE course also provides an insight into using new technologies in teaching Geography.

As an example, some of the Geography sessions available include rocks, weathering and ice, climatic hazards, tectonic hazards and extending and enhancing teaching of Geography.

Geography SKE courses are available in 8-16 week course lengths.

Computer Science SKE course

Our Computer Science SKE course is designed to enhance a trainee’s knowledge of Computer Science in light of the recent curriculum changes. With an increased focus on areas such as coding, web design and cyber security, this SKE course is ideal for anyone training to teach Computer Science who wants to improve their subject knowledge before or alongside their training.

As an example, some of the Computer Science sessions available include inside the digital device, building software solutions, cyber security and technology in business and society.

Computer Science courses are available in a range of lengths between eight and 24 weeks.